KUALA PERLIS: Where dilapidated fishermen’s squatter houses stood in a squalid area, there now stand more harmonious and beautiful kampung houses, with vibrant colours giving them a different vibe.

And a place once looked down upon as dirty and smelly is now a place where tourists flock to take photographs.

Welcome to Kampung Seberang Alor, which is part of the state’s village transformation programme.

Hatijah Halim, 66, who has lived there for over three decades, was excited with the changes in the village, saying that what once looked like a dirty squatter area is now a beautiful village.

Fisherman Hussin Abu Samah, 56, concurred, saying he was also proud to see tourists taking pictures of his house, which has been beautifully repainted.

The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail today launched the village transformation programme in nearby Kampung Seberang Ramai, which is expected to be a new attraction in the state, reported Bernama.

Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Lalilatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil as well as their children Puteri Sharifah Khatreena Nuraniah and Puteri Sharifah Farah Adriana were also in attendance while Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man and his state exco members were also present.

The Ruler also visited the seven villages involved in the transformation programme, namely Kampung Seberang Alor, Kampung Baru Seberang, Kampung Tandiap, Kampung Hujung Tanjong, Kampung Tengah, Kampung Seberang Jaya and Kampung Pulau Ketam.

Meanwhile, state Tourism Committee chairman Asmaiza Ahmad said the programme, which began at the end of last year involving 184 houses, was seen as capable of elevating the villages involved as a new tourism product, known as Rumah Pelangi (Rainbow homes), in the state.

“The initiative, under the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council as well as Yayasan Tuanku Syed Putra Perlis, has made the villages brighter, cleaner and indirectly helped to develop the economy in these areas,” she told reporters today.